India, Nov. 5 -- For the first time, the Delhi government's excise department is considering permitting premium liquor retail stores in industrial areas to boost high-end sales and bridge the competition gap with Gurugram and Noida, officials said. The proposal is part of the draft of the new excise policy, which has been finalised and is likely to be presented soon to chief minister Rekha Gupta.

A meeting scheduled on Monday to finalise the draft was postponed, but senior officials said the policy framework has already been approved internally by the excise department and discussed with minister-in-charge Parvesh Verma. It will be placed before the cabinet shortly for final approval.

"The new policy aims to make Delhi a more competitiv...